the retainer nut is what the ignition switch locks on in the back of the dash board bezal. any ideas? or possible different years that might fit?
There is no nut. Below are links to what I believe you are looking for...
I found a 58 Mercury Bezel which PROBABLY would work ON eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/285625696238?_skw=1957+Ford+ignition+bezel&itmmeta=01J942HN39JTS3J2EP5FVYS08W&hash=item42809e3fee:g:WDMAAOSwfXJli1rW&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkvecQj%2BmqR%2FsZZHx6eU9qZe%2FxjxkUAHd4szETsVi7JBz7qmktBk%2FDvlN3%2BlkjTnUxRKZXMiUy1JW5V93IF8tbqy6SI7Ho%2Fzy4HzmP9kImMNh%2F8L%2Fk3hXVdcwRN%2BZw06U6npBpWap5nvi6eRitymuMfFcUCfkf69MrdIh92Afz5qed87sV66JL9trccUmkUWAEiboTAITiIPxgMTKHE8El9nV%2B%2BfvztJzV1qogOYGxivZ5DM%2FGPdiqA2oZkHN4FmgApTgg1SbSYQJrWUoeTRrgFcgjvHivc4KffSURAqi4qIQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9zRxoLJZA
Here is the whole switch, bezel, keys and all. Pricey.....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/166939934380?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D272502%2C273799%26meid%3D0e7e718c95694204b85056c972683277%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D285625696238%26itm%3D166939934380%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionWithFastIma2ColRanker%26brand%3DEdsel&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A1669399343800e7e718c95694204b85056c972683277%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABMGDU9MW0tDWEsRcf4xBw%252BGqBAZDRlh24qUqtpsrnKt9398S5cON14qxPJVx4Fd2lmIc9YchvQvfMmR%252BONTATEqsoMWsatACzJz07HOE5zovZWJE052fPeciahXPpxFkn3cwh8aoJOF0YgiyBVNTKvC7kX1006wN2tOkEj1sRPW3wD3%252FSjZC0LIQTg7gGfX5PQE8OIeqcH4heMItWK%252BrVTt1AMu6%252B38bZAfHV1K08dF1NLRrYmE9biv9AQjg70k7LhuMXl4QM6FNalUpEs%252FNkgav%252BWMLrT8oBRbkRxRjqO2ixECYJfIPpzXyGutsEeEjd97IeTyfQ77nQmpwAAYqzpTTZnIm2gvLGvwYiYlBjcnXcIHvXPfzFBNB%252FZtGMnIx3UngsuJYpBNVaJcZnHP59eHU%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J942NMHK7ED9D5X8ZG938862
You also could use a "universal" switch or PERHAPS a 57 Truck bezel (those are re-popped) You can contact the vendor and ask....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/153540025678?fits=Year%3A1957%7CMake%3AFord&_skw=1957+Ford+ignition+bezel&itmmeta=01J943JN5Y275ZK5EJ4T5NA5TA&hash=item23bfb2dd4e:g:XMEAAOSw1wtfbj7k&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmOjBGuYaXKPi4sy954Qec73e8B2aLBQhBHy68OboYT54nHT5rAtxzBIN0IZaLzb1j8uyLz%2FxG%2BPN%2FSMmhkmxc1R%2BV32RVz8ycnF%2FYn6ct0UxZTuIE7yzms7cwfGDR1mri%2FJPwiXW40%2FqaNCa2KjoYxs7Sp%2FjqSSYL03m%2BN03Q1GHiot1JHsn9KaGoE68uBiNvGGP%2BC4WIUW3LzjfnqoS%2BXYj7dpXUqPBFZU4nSzFgdLUP6rkEau5ZwfGcLpn5DvKA%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4bTyoPJZA
https://www.ebay.com/itm/192095806068?_skw=1957+Ford+ignition+bezel&itmmeta=01J943G307G1JTTXSFC81S06ST&hash=item2cb9cd6274:g:6RgAAOSw4DJYl7Zk&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlqVZgQKOWOvqJEQbo1pr2DKH%2FPgyk5%2Flxn7I9aFvHa33BhxQiPlff4%2Bt8nMBmdNrw70IjYMtvOY4NQ%2B8ZMSTaSb%2BxPaOO%2FpwalhKuxub%2F6gRWtumt8mhpQyrN7KAYsylV3l4RrBkdjIGHcL47RJyqeEKpAffIC%2F7y5jY7xZT8ttMHXNI5K1g%2B9H0qs3Zz4JIlgoJQDvmpQwySF4BIVGUTlqfk%2B1ehnnuzfLOCpDrHc4tu%2Fkufecl6Pa1tzHbCQwyc%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5iwwIPJZA
Good Luck!